First Quarter:
Tampa Bay began Saturday’s must-win contest with the ball and their offense put their best foot forward. Baker Mayfield stormed down Raymond James Stadium’s rainy field. A drive that began as most 2025 Buccaneer drives do, with a Bucky Irving run up the middle, ended in the end zone with a Cade Otton touchdown reception. 7-0, Bucs.
Tampa’s defense kept that same energy, coming out stingy on Carolina’s first drive. After a frivolous penalty on the game’s opening snap, Todd Bowles’ crew brought the clamps
out. One Carolina punt later and the Buccaneers were back on the attack. The pewter pirates drove quickly into striking distance before a Payne Durham drop in the end zone stalled the team’s progress. 10-0, Bucs on a short Chase McLaughlin kick.
Second Quarter:
The second quarter began with a Carolina Panther third down and long and a Tet McMillan drop.
Third drive of the day for Tampa Bay’s offense would be a backed up drive where the Bucs would work their way off the goal line but into deeper trouble. A forced third down and long pass over the middle of the field for giftwrapped interception. Nothing can jumpstart momentum for a struggling offense like short field touchdowns and Tampa made sure to give Carolina that. Mayfield’s interception handed the Panthers a wide open touchdown. 10-7, Buccaneers.
The Bucs had a near crisis on the ensuing kick off— a fumble that luckily Tampa managed to get back on top of it. That fumble would be a sign of things to come as the Bucs’ drive would be mired in mediocrity. Tackle by Baker Mayfield on his own running back, a contactless fumble, and just general slop led to Riley Dixon punt.
Monsoon games, like the one Tampa found themselves Saturday, often feature sloppy play, ugliness, and poor execution. On their next drive, Carolina came out firing— Looking like a fighter that had survived his opponent’s early borage and came back swinging with the realization he was facing a puncher without knock-out power. That confidence had Dave Canales calling Bryce Young’s number, with great frequency— Bad service on the other end of that line though. Young was late and inside on a out-breaking route tossing a layup of and interception and evening the turnover battle at one 1-1.
The Buccaneers, bleeding the remainder of the clock, finished up the half with another Chase McLaughlin. 13-7, Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Third Quarter:
Carolina opened up the second half with movement but a missed field goal and no points scored. The Buccaneers’ offense could not take advantage of the field position and opted to opt on a fourth down and two, a play that drew quite a negative reaction to those fans who chose to brave the elements to watch their team.
As the third quarter slipped past the six-minute mark, Carolina looked to have converted their first third down of the game. Bryce Young hurled a down field strike to Tet McMillian and the Panthers looked to have flipped field position, snagged momentum and put themselves in the driver’s seat. In an odd and slightly delayed ruling, the refs came back into frame, after appearing the signal first down, saying their was actually offensive pass interference on the play— A push off by McMillian giving him the necessary separation to make the catch. No first down, Carolina punt, Tampa Bay ball.
Fourth Quarter:
The Buccaneers kicked off the fourth quarter with a kick. From Chase McLaughlin’s foot, to the back of the end zone, through the uprights, and good. 16-7, Buccaneers.
Tampa’s defense, in the midst of having a very solid game, proceeded to look suspect during Carolina’s next drive. On a pass to Xavier Leggette, Bryce Young gave his team their first third down conversion of the game. Unfortunately for the Panthers, the sequence would soon turn sour as an attempted Flea Flicker turned into a hefty blunder. A fumbled pitch back to Bryce Young, led to a Lavonte David swan song-moment. In what may be his last career regular season game, David swooped into action scooping up the loose ball and giving Tampa Bay a chance for a dagger. For Buccaneers fans, not only did it mean their team was back in possession and control of the game but it also meant an opportunity to see a Tampa Bay legend ‘row the boat’ one more time.
The Bucs’ special teams unit has been a bottom-dwelling group all season and the unit’s lack of reliability showed up again— A blocked field goal. Failing to cash in on Lavonte David’s turnover via their offense and special teams, the Buccaneers’ defense wilted— Dave Canales versus Toss Bowles, touchdown. 16-14, Buccaneers.
One of Tampa’s many struggles this season has been ball control at the end of games to kill and run out the clock. Baker Mayfield and co. did manage to navigate their way past the first down marker once, however, that was not enough to close the game out with the ball in their hands. Able to walk off the field with their heads held high the Buccaneers’ defense stopped Carolina and gave Tampa Bay a chance. Now, fans and players alike will await Sunday’s results between Atlanta and New Orleans to find out their team’s fate.
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